Premature parturition in ewes inoculated with Sarcocystis ovicanis.
A dose of 6 X 10(4) Sarcocystis ovicanis sporocysts produced premature parturition in ewes and eventually proved fatal. The main pathological findings were myositis, myocarditis and encephalitis. Dose rates over the range of 2.5 X 10(3) to 6 X 10(4) depressed the haematocrit levels of pregnant ewes during the period 5-9 weeks after inoculation. Previous infection with S. gigantia did not protect from subsequent challenge with S. ovicanis.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*